Allentown man supplied cocaine to Whitehall dealer, state agent says

When a Carbon County man was caught with cocaine in Whitehall Township in November, a state agent asked the man who sold the drug, according to an arrest affidavit filed Monday.

In the last three weeks, the answers paid off in arrests.

A state investigation found that the man bought the cocaine from a Whitehall dealer who, for five years, had been paying an east Allentown supplier $11,500 a month to keep the drug coming.

Cristian A. Martinez, 36, of 634 Sherman St., Allentown, the alleged top supplier, was arrested Feb. 11 and charged with possession with intent to deliver cocaine, conspiracy and related offenses.

On Monday, Warren E. Pearson, 48, of 870 Third St., Whitehall, who allegedly bought the drugs from Martinez, was charged with participating in a corrupt organization, drug dealing, conspiracy and related offenses.

Dale J. Raines, 50, of Tailwood Drive, Albrightsville, who allegedly bought 7.6 grams of cocaine from Pearson on Nov. 29 as the state agent watched, was charged Monday with the same offenses of which Pearson is accused.

Raines' drug dealing charge is related to his admission, according to the affidavit, that after his purchases he "shares the cocaine with others."

Martinez was arraigned Feb. 11 by District Judge Jacob Hammond, who committed him to Lehigh County Prison under $500,000 bail.

District Judge Robert C. Halal arraigned Pearson and Raines on Monday. Halal committed both to county prison under $300,000 bail each.

A state agent monitored "controlled purchases of cocaine" in Whitehall by Pearson to Raines on Dec. 3, when about 4 grams of cocaine were sold; on Jan. 9, when about 5 grams were sold; and on Jan. 16, when another 4 grams were sold, the affidavit says.

Investigators Jan. 16 searched Pearson's Whitehall home, where they found about 124 grams of cocaine, two digital scales and a gun, the affidavit says.

On Jan. 24, the state agent monitored a controlled sale of cocaine by Martinez to Pearson in Whitehall, and on Feb. 11 agents of the state Bureau of Narcotics Investigation arrested Martinez, the affidavit says.

In a search of Martinez's car and three homes he had used, agents found 668 grams of cocaine and $26,620, according to the affidavit.

The affidavit does not indicate where Martinez obtained his drug supplies.